Assata Shakur has been living in Cuba since 1986, after escaping from
prison where she was serving a life sentence imposed in a highly disputed trial. Assata
was a Black Panther then a Black Liberation Army (BLA) leader in the early '70s, so she
was a target of the FBI's COINTELPRO operation. Assata was captured in a shoot-out
resulting from resistance to yet another "driving while black" police action in
1973 on the New Jersey State Turnpike. This time a State Trooper was killed. Zayd
Shakur, traveling in the car with Assata, was also killed.

The third person in the car, Sundiata
Acoli, is still serving time over 30 years later and has recently been denied parole
for another 20 years. According to one of Sundiata' attorney, Joan P. Gibbs, "Assata,
at the time of her arrest, was 'wanted' on federal and state charges in New York, all of
which juries subsequently found her not guilty of or were dismissed."
As was later proved through medical forensics, Assata was wounded at the
time of her capture by a cowardly shot from the rear, while she had her
hands up. She was given a paraffin test, which failed to reveal any
gunpowder residue, meaning it would have been hard for her to have fired a
gun. While recovering from her
wounds, she was tortured at the hands of the State
Police Nazis (no hyperbole here, they were WWII Nazis brought to
America). She was convicted by an all white jury in
1977 and sentenced to life in prison. Before her daring escape from prison in 1979, Assata Shakur served a
total of six years behind bars where she would also give birth to her daughter
Kakuya.

The following passage is excerpted from Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur and was
originally delivered by Assata Shakur as part of her opening statement while acting as
co-counsel in her own defense for charges stemming from the New Jersey Turnpike
incident:

"The idea of the Black Liberation Army
emerged from conditions in Black communities: conditions of poverty, indecent housing,
massive unemployment, poor medical care, and inferior education. The idea came about
because Black people are not free or equal in this country. Because ninety percent of the
men and women in this country's prisons are Black and Third World. Because ten-year-old
children are shot down in our streets. Because dope has saturated our communities, preying
on the disillusionment and frustrations of our children. The concept of the BLA arose
because of the political, social, and economic oppression of Black people in this country.
And where there is oppression, there will be resistance. The BLA is part of that
resistance movement. The Black Liberation Army stands for freedom and justice for all
people. "

Strictly conscious revolutionary hip hop in every word this song shows the ignorance of the so called rappers now days.

Keith Murray, of Def Squad fame, has recently signed with Premier Artist Group. He’s currently writing new material for his future album, and is prepping for his "True Artistry" tour. Also he’s shopping a reality TV show to networks. For any new Keith Murray fans, I suggest checking his first two albums (Most Beautifullest Thing In This World & Enigma). Be on the lookout for tour dates for the "True Artistry" to

Source: Ughh.com

Montclair, N.J. - Rahfeal Gordon, youth entrepreneur and motivational speaker, tells his audience, "If nobody ever says that you’re brilliant, say it to yourself every day. Look yourself in the mirror: if you have survived something, I don’t care how small, how big, you’ve survived it,” he said.

Rahfeal Gordon’s motivational speech is simple: He tells the story of his own life in three chapters. Each begins with a hip-hop lyric that he knows will be meaningful to a young audience, like these incoming freshmen at Montclair State University. Gordon says he uses positive hip-hop lyrics to encourage youths, especially those who grew in poverty and abuse, as he did. His talk is called "Hip Hop Saved My Life.”

"When I had my very dark moments in life, I would put on certain songs, whether it be from Jay-Z, Tupac, Kanye West,” Gordon said. "They kept me going through the hard times. They fulfilled a certain void that I couldn’t fulfill, like not having a father or mother there, so I felt they could relate because they would tell these stories.

You might see a tear, you might not. But just understand that where I come from, it’s a long road,” he explains. "Some of us probably share the same situations, but understand: you can make it, you will make it. You’re here,” Gordon adds.

Gordon says his childhood was happy until his parents became addicted to drugs and his father began to beat Gordon’s three brothers and mother. They left to live on the streets and in homeless shelters. Gordon says he tries now be a voice for others, including a brother who was murdered at the age of 19.

"When I lost my brother, that was, really, a moment when things really started to take off, in the sense of saying, ‘I really, really want to be that individual to really help people, to help individuals,” Gordon said. "I can’t be Superman. I can’t save the world, but I think if I can help an individual, I am saving the world.’”

Gordon’s grandparents, Orreleen and Wyatt Warren, also helped him survive.

"I love my grandmother. She is like, if they say, ‘Who is your first girlfriend?’ I say my grandmother!,” he said. "They say a village child is an individual who is being raised by the entire community of people. Those people are now investing into you, so that you can become this village child, be a person who can hold a village on your back with ease,” Gordon said. "And that’s who I was, and my grandmother was like the mayor of the village.”

Rahfeal Gordon says he hopes to one day take his motivational lecture to young people across the United States and in other countries. Earlier this year, he was named social entrepreneur of the year by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. The award recognizes youth businesses that aim to help communities.

"Woo! It’s four years I’ve been trying to get this award!” Gordon says as he accepts the award at the NFTE Awards Ceremony.

The political campaign of Sen. Barack Obama has inspired young people to become involved in the American political process and many artists are using their voices, dollars and influence as effective instruments for political change, said hip hop experts, political activists and policy analysts at the Democratic National Convention.

The forum titled "Hip Hop: Be the Change,” sponsored by the College Democrats of America and moderated by author Bakari Kitwana, dealt with the increasingly visible role of hip hop, its place in the 2008 election news and beyond. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, of Georgetown University, said increased activism is a transformation of hip hop culture’s "radical political potential.”

"It’s one thing to talk about it on a record, it’s another thing to tag it in graffiti, it’s another thing to be involved in knowledge distribution and wisdom accumulation that is characteristic of certain forms of hip hop. But at the end of the day, the transition into the pursuit of political power in a formal setting in parliamentary politics is quite an interesting transition,” said the author. Such activism could also end exploitation of young people by "unprincipled elites” who use elements of hip hop, but fear "political energy that cannot be controlled,” he said.

Many artists have embraced Sen. Obama’s candidacy and used their ability to reach millions to offer supportive messages. Rapper Nas released a song called "Black President.” In a trend started by Will.i.am, artists like John Legend, actress and singer Tatyana Ali, CeCe Penniston and others have created songs with variations of Obama’s change message.

Panelist Angela Woodson, co-chaired the National Hip Hop Political Convention 2004 which brought together close to 4,000 young activists to create and implement a hip hop political agenda. She and Tonja Stiles, founder of Politicalswagger.com, said the power of individuals to come together collectively and make change is real.

Students for Barack Obama began in the summer of 2006 when young people began using Facebook to petition Sen. Obama to run for president. The effort and energy of the students resulted in a group that became the official student organization for Obama for America once he decided to run.

Ms. Styles recounted how the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan hosted a hip hop summit in 1997 after deaths of rap rivals Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. Rappers were brought together to discuss using their creativity and power for good, she said.

Actress Tatyana Ali has traveled to college campuses encouraging voter registration on behalf of the Obama campaign. She plans to vote and is confident young people will turn out for the Nov. 4 election.

"I think young people have showed up in great numbers during the primary and I think they are going to do it again because the issues that are really important in this election are really important to young people—like bringing our friends and loved ones back home from Iraq and taking care of them once they are back. Like education and making sure it is affordable health care and the environment,” said the 29-year-old actress.

While not dismissing the hip hop generation’s enthusiasm and activism, BET talk show host Jeff Johnson wants to see more sustained activism. "I’ll be very honest, we go through this every four years,” he said. "There’s an extra dose of energy as a result of Obama being the candidate, but we had excitement with ‘Vote or Die’ (in 2004) so the real issue is not only will the young people come out and vote, but will these young people rally when it’s not an election? I’m more concerned about these young people rallying tomorrow about police brutality, and lack of resources in their communities than I am about them voting in the November. Because if they’re not willing to fight for the issues in their communities now, it doesn’t matter if Barack Obama, John McCain or Jesus is in the White House, because at the end of the day, if we aren’t fighting for our own communities nobody is going to do it.”

Big Shug (of Gang Starr Foundation) has a new single entitled "My Boston" featuring Termanology & Singapore Kane. It's also a nice point to mention it was produced by DJ Premier (of Gangstarr). On a side note on September 13th, in Boston, Big Shug and others will be performing at The Good Life (28 Kingston Street). Doors open at 9.

My Boston" featuring Termanology & Singapore Kane

Prince Po of Organized Konfusion stated that he and Pharaohe Monch have
worked on a new song together entitled "Then and Now". Even though it's
a new song by the two, it will remain unheard for now. He also stated
it could lead to a possible album and website. Organized Konfusion was
formed in the early 90's and recorded 3 great albums before their split
which eventually lead to Pharaohe Monch's solo career.